Bermuda Properties, developers of the new Tucker's Point Club, justified charging former members of the Marriott Castle Harbour Golf Club $20,000 to join the new golf course.

The Royal Gazette revealed in April that former Castle Harbour members had protested to the Tucker's Point Club after receiving letters demanding $20,000 to sign up for the new improved course.

The golfers, who instructed a solicitor to act on their behalf, felt $20,000 was far too much for former members of Castle Harbour.

Bermuda Properties President Ed Trippe said the sum was good value for money given that the developers were spending $30 million on the new course and clubhouse.

"They need to recognise that by the time we open the new club, we will have spent $30 million rebuilding the course and clubhouse and beach club,'' he said.

"Normally, members would be assessed for a lot more than $20,000. We are giving former members a very attractive benefit.''

Mr. Trippe said he expected around 20-30 of the 60 former members to join the new club.

He said the $75,000 fee for new members was modest when compared to other top-of-the-range courses in the US.

While he conceded it was expensive for Bermuda, he said a new golf club which opened in Nantucket now cost $500,000 to join, while similar courses in the East Hamptons cost $350,000, and New Jersey was $250,000-300,000.

Mr. Trippe said the average cost of membership for new luxury courses was $200,000-$250,000.

He revealed that initial membership costs for Tucker's Point are set to rise when the new Rosewood-managed hotel on the site with top class spa are opened.

The entire development at Tucker's Point includes luxury houses, a hotel and spa, a variation of a timeshare development, and a beach club, costing a total of $250 million.

"We hope this will be very successful. We want to keep it limited and open up the membership slowly.

"We are $75,000 this year and will maybe be $100,000 next year. By the time the new hotel is opened with the spa facilities, we will be charging whatever premium we can get.''

People who buy a stake in a property as part of the private residence club automatically receive membership of the golf club. Mr. Trippe said he would be satisfied if only the people who buy the 26 luxury houses sign up to join those who have membership included in the price of buying into the private residence club.

He said the company has not yet begun marketing for members, but already six people had expressed an interest in joining.

Bermuda Properties has unofficially canvassed some "leading figures in the community'' and received a good response.

The new course will open in October, but the new clubhouse will not be completed until early 2003.

He said there had been a great deal of interest on the Island for the corporate membership package, where companies can buy a number of memberships for $75,000 each, but numbers will be limited to 60.

Mr. Trippe said he was convinced wealthy overseas golfers would not balk at the $75,000 price tag.

"There are wealthy people in the US and Europe who collect golf club memberships and would pay $200,000 and maybe use it twice a year, or not at all.

"The rich and famous live out here, and we want to provide them with the service they want. The standards we establish have got to match those of Rosewood's at the hotel.''